Subcontractor Information

THE HENLEY COLLEGE SUPPLY CHAIN FEES POLICY 2015-2016

Scope

The policy applies to all sub-contracted activity supported with funds supplied by the Skills Funding Agency, the Education Funding Agency or any successor organisations.

Context

The policy is now a mandatory requirement that must be in place prior to participating in any sub-contracting activity from 1 August 2013. The content of this policy has been developed in line with AoC/AELP Common Accord, the SFA Funding rules 2015-16.

Rationale for sub-contracting

The Colleges engages with the sub-contractors to enable us to successfully meet the needs of existing customers and to support the function of engaging new customers. Sub-Contractors are also a vital element which supports our five key priorities which are to develo0p and deliver high quality training programmes for; Apprenticeships, Higher Education, Adult Skills, 16-18 6th form students and 14-16 year olds. The college will achieve this by:

Providing access to, or engagement with, a new range of customers.

Widening participation by subcontracting non-local delivery, for example where the sub-contractors are able to deliver programmes that the Henley College does not have the resources to deliver or those that fall outside the Colleges geographical remit.

Supporting another provider to develop capacity/quality

Providing niche delivery where the cost of developing direct delivery would be inappropriate.

Supporting employers who have a wide geographical requirement.

Quality Assurance

The quality of the provision will be monitored and managed through the existing College IQA processes and procedures, as amended in order to fully encompass all sub contracted activity. This policy positions sub- contractor’s provision as part of College activity to enable continuous improvements in the quality of teaching and learning for both the college and its subcontractors. This will be achieved through the sharing of effective good practice.

Publication of information relating to sub-contractors

In compliance with Skills Funding Agency and other Agency Funding rules that apply, the college will publish its sub-contracting policy and on is website before the start of each academic year. This will only relate to ‘provision subcontracting’ i.e. subcontract delivery of full programmes or framework. It will not include the delivery of a service as part of the delivery of a programme (for example, buying the delivery of part of an Apprenticeship framework or outreach support).The College will ensure all actual and potential subcontractors have sight of this policy.

Fees and charges

The rationale used to determine the level of fee retained through each sub-contract uses a risk based approach.

The contributory risk factors that would result in differences in fees charged for, or support provide to, different subcontractors might include:

Previous track record

Success levels

Type of customers to be engaged

Type of provision to be undertaken

Contract duration

The college will also retain funding to cover the cost of any funded activity that it might undertake on behalf of the sub-contractor such as:

Awarding Organisations fees and charges

Hiring of facilities/equipment within/from the College

Internal Verification, including the average cost of travel for onsite visits

Communications

This policy will be reviewed in each summer term and updated as required. It will be published on the college website during the July prior to the start of the academic year in which it will be applied. Potential sub-contractors will be directed to it as the starting point in any relationship.